Market
Transportation
Principal Drainage Engineer - Multiple Locations
Jacobs
Birmingham, UK
Posted on Mar 14, 2026
At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.
Your impact
In this role, your expertise will directly shape some of the UK’s most high‑profile transportation programmes. By stepping into a Principal Engineer position, you’ll influence the technical direction of major highway and rail schemes for clients such as National Highways, Transport Scotland, Network Rail, the Welsh Government, HS2 Ltd, national contractors, and local authorities. Your leadership will strengthen a team already recognised for excellence, helping expand our growing portfolio across the UK.
As the technical discipline lead, you’ll set the standard for drainage engineering on multi‑disciplinary projects—guiding design quality, challenging assumptions, and driving innovative, sustainable solutions. Your knowledge of key drainage tools, DMRB or UK Rail Standards, SuDS design, and engagement with Lead Local Flood Authorities will directly shape project outcomes. You’ll also play a pivotal role in developing others, providing coaching and mentoring that supports the next generation of engineers and elevates our capability across the business.
Thriving communities. Healthy cities. A brighter future. What we do is more than building roads and rail, we work every day to make the world better for everyone. If you want to join a company invested in you, your success, and the global community, start your career with Jacobs.
This role can be based at either our Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds or London offices.
Key deliverables: (not limited to)
- Providing deliverables and solutions to drainage elements on schemes and problems
- Production and review of feasibility studies, technical reports, detailed designs and production of contract documents across a variety of projects
- Checking and Reviewing scheme deliverables and supporting information
- Assist with the technical development of Engineers and Senior Engineers
- Monitoring and reporting of progress
- Help seek innovative solutions in achieving best value in delivering our services
Here's what you'll need
- A degree in a relevant engineering discipline
- Chartered or working towards Chartered or Incorporated status
- Ability using drainage modelling software and tools
- Experience of delivering at variety of scheme stages for drainage and/or transportation projects
- Thorough understanding of DMRB and/or UK rail standards, SuDS Manual and other standards and areas not covered by standards in related to area of expertise
- Must hold a full driving licence due to site travel
#Drainage #Transportation #Highways #LI-DC1
Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.
With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.
We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about our Jacobs Employee Networks here.
Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit https://www.vercida.com/uk/employers/jacobs to view and access our roles.
As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.
We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.
Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.
Locations
| City | State | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | West Midlands | United Kingdom |
| Leeds | West Yorkshire | United Kingdom |
| Manchester | Greater Manchester | United Kingdom |
| London | Greater London | United Kingdom |
